Buying an extra Big Money Bingo scratch-off turned into “big money” as a Dundalk woman scratched a $100,000 top prize. The retired Baltimore County teacher decided to spend her previous scratch-off winnings from last week on an extra Big Money Bingo ticket, a game she frequently plays.

The woman waited to scratch off her tickets until later that night. To her surprise, she revealed a $100,000 prize. “I didn’t believe that I won,” she told Lottery officials. “I was in shock. I checked the ticket seven times and then went to the store to confirm it.” Next, she called her children, who were just as shocked as she was to learn the good news.

Everyone needs a break once in a while during their work day, a chance to step away from the grind to relax for a moment. For an equipment operator in Hollywood, one of those momentary respites this past Wednesday proved to be quite memorable. He spent his few minutes of down time scratching a Big Money Bingo ticket he’d purchased on the way in to the shop that morning. When he returned to the job just a few minutes later he was $100,000 richer.

“I checked that thing probably ten times to make sure I was reading it correctly,” the winner told Lottery officials. “When I walked back in to work I had tears in my eyes. The other guys thought something had happened outside.” Something did happen, of course, something that none of them will ever forget. “There was a lot of yelling, hugs and high-fives going on. My boss was upset because we were shorthanded and he couldn’t let me leave for the Lottery office.”

The St. Mary’s County man and his wife have definite plans for their winnings. After taking care of some debts and setting some aside for a vehicle that needs attention, there will be plenty left over for their four kids. The winning ticket was purchased at the Burchmart convenience store, located at 28270 Three Notch Rd. in Mechanicsville.

A long-time Baltimore scratch-off player picks up a ticket or two on his way home from work most days. He was adhering to this routine last Thursday but, at the last moment, added something new – a change that would pay off handsomely.

“There are a few games I like to play,” he told officials. “Games that have been lucky for me.” When he was picking out his tickets last week, however, he decided to switch things up. “I just decided to try something new and play a different ticket.” That ticket, Big Money Bingo, delivered not one, but two surprises for the city employee and his family when he scratched it later at home.
“I thought at first that I’d won $500, so we were pretty excited.” The lucky winner returned to the Lottery retailer where he’d gotten his ticket, Wing Hing, located at 700 Cherry Hill Road, but found that they couldn’t cash it there. A second look at the ticket told him why. “When we finally realized that we’d actually won $100,000, we were all speechless. We literally couldn’t speak for a few minutes.”

He tells us that he and his wife will first pay some bills with their winnings but will then focus on making this Christmas a memorable one for their family. Santa might even leave a new car in their driveway. Big Money Bingo still has five $100,000 winners in Lottery retailers around Maryland.